Wagner girls grab 25-5A crown while Judson boys reclaim title

By Jeff B. Flinn

Published 12:01 am, Thursday, April 21, 2011

Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer/Prime Time Newspapers

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Wagner's Kayla Robinson (left) battles San Marcos' Amanda Hunt in the girl's 100-meter hurdles during the District 25-5A track and field meet at Rutledge Stadium on April 13, 2011. Robinson won the event with a time of 15.12 and also won gold in the girls' 300-meter hurdles. Photo by Marvin Pfeiffer

Wagner's Kayla Robinson (left) battles San Marcos' Amanda Hunt in the girl's 100-meter hurdles during the District 25-5A track and field meet at Rutledge Stadium on April 13, 2011. Robinson won the event with

After an opening day blitz of field events in the District 25-5A meet left their rivals, the Judson Lady Rockets, in first place, the Wagner Lady Thunderbirds took to the track on day two and powered their way to a district crown, sweeping all three relays en route to a narrow 157-155 win over Judson.

The Wagner win breaks a 13-year reign by the Lady Rockets as district champs.

On the boys' side, the Judson Rockets returned the favor, besting the 25-5A field and recapturing the district crown they lost last year to Wagner. Judson finished strong with 194 points, ahead of Wagner (150), New Braunfels (131) and Steele (87).

“They performed like I knew they were going to perform,” Wagner girls' coach Shontae Johnson said. “It was time for these Thunderbirds to soar, and that's what they did today.”

Huge efforts by hurdler Kayla Robinson and team points leader Tiaira Carter pushed the T-birds back into the race, after Wagner was third after the first day's field events at D.W. Rutledge Stadium. Running finals were held April 13 in the two-day event.

Robinson took gold in the 100 hurdles, in 15.12, and 300 hurdles, in 45.40. Carter captured first in the 400 with a time of 55.44, took second in the high jump (5-3) and ran terrific legs in two of Wagner's three winning relays.

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“I was very excited with our 4-by-4; we went 3:56,” Johnson said. “Tiaira Carter, a junior running our first leg, ... ran 53.48 split. She gave us that lead and we told them, ‘Run off of that lead, don't let her hard work go in vain.' And that's what they did, they showed up today.”

The 4-by-400 team of Carter, Deja Pettit, Ingrid Cleveland and LaDaria Nelson finished first in 3:56.31, nearly five seconds ahead of second-place Judson. Wagner's other relays won as well. The 4-by-100 quartet of Taniqua Hawkins, Carter, Nelson and Pettit, ran a 47.65 and the 4-by-200 team of Markesha Thomas, Hawkins, Autumn Hickman and Pettit broke the tape at 1:42.97.

The Judson Lady Rockets jumped out to an early first-day lead, riding the successes of seniors Motranique Smith and Stephanie Nelson, Smith having captured the high jump (5-4) and triple jump (36-8½) titles, with Nelson taking first in the long jump (18 feet). Nelson later added a third in the 100 and ran on two relays.

Judson's Syltrina Rowell and Emara Towns grabbed second places in field events as well, Rowell throwing 129-11 in the discus and Towns 35-0.5 in the shot put. Angelica Gordon was second in the 100, Laketria Wright and Evelyn Clark finished 2-3 in the 400, and Jasmine Sanders took third in the 800.

Steele'sAlyssa Hampton had a tremendous day, sweeping first in the 100 (12.3) and 200 (25.52). Teammate Domonique Smalls took second in the 200 and triple jump, while Taylor Glasz finished second in both the 800 and 1,600 runs. Alyssa McLean added a second in the 300 hurdles and a third in the 100 hurdles.